Maine Players Provide a Boost for Boston

BOSTON, Mass. - Current and former Maine Celtics stepped in a big way for Boston this week. The shorthanded Celtics looked to their 'Stay-Ready' group and the guys delivered.

Celtics Two-Way Player Drew Peterson has seen more minutes on the court with Boston this week than his previous NBA career combined. On Sunday, December 1, Peterson logged 25 minutes against the Cleveland Cavaliers, matching a career-high in scoring with eight points while also grabbing four rebounds and drawing one charge.

“Just thought he had some really good defensive possessions defending without fouling,” Boston Head Coach Joe Mazzulla said after the loss to the Cavaliers. “He’s physical. He’s smart. He has a knack for the ball whether it’s offensive rebounding or moving without the basketball to get open. I think he works really hard so you try to find moments throughout the season where you can validate the work that the guys put in regardless of who it is.”

Peterson then recorded seven points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes against Miami. The Celtics forward also appeared in a 130-120 win on Wednesday against Detroit as Boston went 2-1 during that span.

“It was great to see him out there,” Celtics forward Kristaps Porzingis said after the Cleveland game. “I told him right away to look for his stuff because he’s a good offensive player, and he wasn’t shy all night long. He shot his shots, played good defense, and showed his game. In a high-level game like this, it was really cool to see.”

2024 first-round pick Baylor Scheierman and Two-Way Player JD Davison also saw playing time against Miami, and Boston received key contributions from former Maine Celtics Luke Kornet, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh and Neemias Queta.

"We got some young stars. Shoutout to our development team," Jaylen Brown told NBC Sports Boston on Monday. "They come in, they get to work, listen to our coaching staff and they're getting better and better. They are ready when their number is called. Guys are injured, guys are out, and they step right in. Shoutout to them, Jordan, Drew Peterson, JD... Shoutout to those guys." 

Peterson's big week with Boston came after the second-year forward scored a career-best 33 points in a win over Raptors 905. That game was played in Ontario during the Thanksgiving holiday, before Peterson joined the Celtics on the road. Boston's Two-Way Players and Players Eligible for Assignment are always developing, always staying ready for their opportunity. That's something former Maine Celtic Luke Kornet knows all too well.

"I like to think that staying ready is a lifestyle, you just live ready," Kornet said. Kornet played with the Maine Celtics on an NBA G League Standard Contract before earning the call up to Boston. "You saw with Drew and Baylor and Jordan, and it's just the expectation is for everyone to come in and help us win and evaluate yourself according to that standard. It's not always the easiest thing. Some of those guys are flying from a Maine game in Delaware to an NBA game and back. It's just the mentality in this organization is it's all about winning no matter what team you're playing for that night."

It's all about winning for the organization that brought home Banner 18 in the 2024 NBA Finals. That winning mentality is as strong in Maine as it is in Boston, and it's infused in all the Celtics players.

“I just feel like if you give a guy an idea if he’s going to or not going to (play), it changes his preparation on a daily basis,” Mazzulla said. “I want our guys to come to the arena every day thinking that their process is important towards winning."

There may be some more opportunities for the Maine guys to contribute for Boston this weekend when the Celtics face Milwaukee on Friday night and Memphis on Saturday. Maine Celtics will host the Greensboro Swarm in back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Portland Expo.